Bill would lift limits on chaplains’ language

Bill would lift limits on chaplains’ language
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, July 23, 2008



WASHINGTON — Supporters of new legislation that would allow military chaplains to pray "in Jesus’ name" insist it’s needed to protect religious freedom in the ranks, arguing that service officials are still pressuring Christian ministers to tone down their language.

The bill, introduced last week by Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., mandates that if chaplains are asked to lead a prayer in a public setting outside their official religious duties, they will have "the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience."

Officials from Jones’ office said the measure came after continued complaints from chaplains that commanding officers were pressuring them into using nondenominational language in public settings, forcing them to choose between their beliefs and their military duty.

Jones introduced a similar bill two years ago, as lawmakers and military officials sparred over Navy and Air Force policies dictating secular, nondenominational prayers for chaplains outside of their worship services.

Those policies were repealed in the 2007 Defense Authorization Bill, but supporters failed to get enough backing to also include language specifically protecting chaplains who disobey superior officers by using nonapproved language in public settings, such as memorial or change-of-command ceremonies.
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http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56304

Religious freedom group targets VA hospitals

Religious freedom group targets VA hospitals




Associated Press - April 15, 2008 10:45 AM ET

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A Madison foundation continues its crusade against religion in the government-operated Veterans Administration hospitals.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation pressed the Madison VA hospital to remove a sales display by Christian book store.

The hospital then took down the displays in the lobby and auditorium put up by the Inspired By Him Christian book store.

The foundation is also waiting for a federal appeals court ruling on the VA's broader policy of offering religious counseling to patients at VA hospitals nationwide.


Information from: Gil Halsted, Wisconsin Public Radio
http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8168297

Now you knew I'd have something to say on this.

Are they against all religions or only one? Is it a matter of having just Christian Chaplains who are acting as evangelists for their own branch or is it because they are crossing the line between "spiritual council" and "religious" council?

It does matter. As a Chaplain, I am required to serve all people, no matter what their faith is or if they have no faith at all. There is a connection between mind, body and spirit and it all plays into taking care of the needs of the veterans. We are not supposed to be allowed to "favor" Christianity over any other religion if the people coming to us happen to be of another faith. We are representatives of God and serve in that capacity. Or at least that is what we are supposed to be.

Naturally as a Christian, I'm apt to know more about Christian doctrine than I do about Buddhism for an example. Yet I am not supposed to try to convert anyone especially when they are in crisis. At the moment of need, there isn't time to even begin to do that.

I can understand the need to treat all faiths equally. That was the intent of the foundation of this nation. If they do not treat all faiths the same, there is nothing to stop someone from treating my faith as a lesser faith. I happen to be Greek Orthodox, which in this country, it is not one of the major branches of Christianity. What is to stop anyone in power from treating a Baptist with more clout than me? There needs to be protections under the law and they have to be defended, so yes, I do respect the rights of people to seek the removal of governmental connects stepping over the line. There must be equality in all government facilities because they are to serve the people and not just one faith over another.
My problem with this report is that it does not get specific. I'd really like to know what was being done and what was behind it. Did they allow other faiths to have the same kind of attention? Is it a matter of they allowed it but the other faiths did not want to use the same placement? Does this group want all religious/spiritual help removed from VA facilities? Or do they just want the equality of them?

I can understand removing symbols of one Christian sect over all others but I cannot understand the removal of all faiths from everywhere. Taking statues out of a VA chapel is understandable because some Christians find them offensive according to their own beliefs and the fact they see the statues as "graven images" while the Catholic faith favors them. Orthodox Christians do not allow them. They favor icons and for a long time, even they were not allowed in the churches. I would really like to know what they want for a solution other than the removal of all spiritual assistance.